The Princeton University DeCenter, in collaboration with the Princeton Project in Philosophy & Religion, will host a workshop titled Blockchain & Belief: Histories and Futures of Money, Power, and Faith.

The day-long workshop, beginning at 9:45 a.m., will explore parallels between certain religious histories and the development of contemporary financial technologies. A central goal is to examine historical precedents for today’s blockchain-sector phenomena—precedents that may help predict future developments and provide ethical guidance, particularly in contexts where power is being dispersed and decentralized.

The workshop will be closed-door, with participation by invited external guests, Princeton graduate students, and faculty members.

Following the workshop, there will be a public panel at 4:30 p.m. highlighting key conversations from the day. This discussion will examine how historical and religious frameworks can shed light on emerging blockchain phenomena and offer ethical guidance in times of shifting authority and trust. The panel will feature three Princeton alumni, two external academics, and will be moderated by DeCenter Steering Committee member and Professor in the University Center for Human Values, Andrew Chignell.